Credit-based flow control for multicast packets in lossless ethernet networks

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products presented herein provide for self-routing multicast. In one embodiment, a system includes a switch controller including a hardware processor and logic integrated with and / or executable by the processor, the logic being adapted to receive a multicast data stream join request from a source device in a network, create a multipath identifier (ID) for the multipath data stream, create a series of path identifiers (IDs) for each intermediate switch in the network based on a local network topology database, each path ID being associated with a desired output port bitmap, and transmit the multipath ID and a path ID to a source of the multicast data stream, the path ID corresponding to the source of the multicast data stream join request.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]The present invention relates to data center management and file systems, and more specifically, this invention relates to using credit-based flow control for unicast, multicast, and broadcast packets in lossless Ethernet networks.[0002]Currently available lossless Ethernet networks do not allow for credit-based flow control where how traffic flows are prioritized and handled is determined based on an available amount of credit. Instead, conventional lossless Ethernet networks, and more specifically the switches used therein, when an issue or problem arises and a packet is undeliverable, simply discard the packet, and in some instances, retransmit the discarded packets at a later time. This approach adds additional latency to the network when a packet is undeliverable, and may result in some packets being dropped permanently, even in the lossless Ethernet network.[0003]Ethernet is becoming more and more popular and some conventional switched fabric networks may make ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent describes a system and method for distributing data to multiple devices in a network. The system creates a unique identifier for the data and sends it to the source device, which then sends it to the next device in the network. This process ensures that the data is sent to all the desired devices without causing any congestion or delays. The technical effect of this invention is to provide a more efficient and reliable way of distributing data to multiple devices in a network.

Problems solved by technology

Currently available lossless Ethernet networks do not allow for credit-based flow control where how traffic flows are prioritized and handled is determined based on an available amount of credit.

This approach adds additional latency to the network when a packet is undeliverable, and may result in some packets being dropped permanently, even in the lossless Ethernet network.

However, these credit-based flow control systems are not applicable nor are they capable of being used in Ethernet networks or to utilize existing Ethernet frame formats and protocols.

This limits their scalability and makes it difficult to extend conventional Ethernet network design to applications where credit-based flow control is used.

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